Flexible robe rail or the like



Feb. 5, 1929.

R. F. SMITH FLEXIBLE ROBE RAIL OR THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1927 INVENTOR RAY F SM/rH ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UlTEl) STATES RAY E. SMITH, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE ROBE RAIL OR THE LIKE.

Application filed March 25, 1927. Serial No. 178,375.

This invention relates to flexible robe rails or the like, and I use this term robe rail to indicate a device such as is commonly pro vided in automobiles for supporting robes or other articles.

Of course it is to be understood that my invention is capable of other uses and I desire to cover the invention for any use to which it can be put.

An object of the invention is to provide a rail which is flexible, which may be braided or otherwise formed, and which will have therein a flexible, non-stretchable, reinforcing element.

Flexible rails such as heretofore used have a tendency to sag and after constant use become longer and longer, and it is the purpose of my invention to provide a rail which will not unduly sag, and which will not stretch or lengthen, and which will have most eflicient securing or coupling means so as to render the device strong and durable both in its construction and in its manner of attachment.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which will be ornamental and attractive in appearance and which lends itself to many uses wherein a flexible, ornamental, braided or otherwise analogous device is desired for use.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating my improved rail secured to the back of the front seat of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a broken perspective view of my improved reinforcing member;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section through one end of the rail, showing the same secured to a bracket;

Figure 4L is a view in longitudinal section at right angles to Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a broken view in elevation showing my invention as applied to an ornamental hanging handheld or grip device such as is commonly found in automobiles.

Assuming that my improved device is to be used as a robe rail I shall employ such terminology as is apt for this particular use.

1 represents the back of an automobile front seat. 2 is my improved rail which is secured at its respective ends to brackets 3. The rail 2 is formed preferably of braided material. It has an inner core member 4 which may be made up of any number of thicknesses of braided material with an outer ornamental covering of braidedmaterial 5, and it is of course to be understood that other materials which may not come within the term of braided may be employed, it being understood, however, that such material is flexible, non-metallic and ornamental, at least, in the external appearance of the rail.

Within the core member 4L and extending longitudinally thereof is my improved reinforcing device, illustrated inperspective at Figure 2. This reinforcing device comprises a length of wire 6 which is twisted, plaited or otherwise formed so as to prevent it from stretching.

In the broadest aspect this wire constitutes an inelastic, non-stretchable flexible member which. may be aptly termed a cable although I shall use the term wire in describing the same.

The ends of this wire 6 are secured to metal strips 7, said strips having slots 8 in one end receiving the ends of the wire, and the ends of the wire are then secured by solder 9 or fastened in any other secure manner.

The strips 7 are provided intermediate their ends with openings 10 and at their ends with openingsll, and in forming the core member at about the reinforcing device it is to be understood that the extremities of these strips 7 project beyond the core, as clearly indicated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.

The openings 10 in the strips 7 are adapted to receive pins 12 which are driven through the core member and the openings 10 and then bent at an angle, as shown clearly in Figure 4:, to prevent any indepelident longitudinal movement of the core or reinforcing member.

The extremities of the core member may be lapped or otherwise formed and metal t-himbles 13 are secured over the same and perforated to allow the strips 7 to project therethrough. I

The brackets 3 above referred to are hollow and have upright walls 14, said walls 14 slotted as shown at 15 to receive the ends of the strips '7, and cotter pins or other analogous devices 16 are projected through the openings 11 back of the walls 13 so as to prevent uncoupling of the parts. These brackets 23 are ornamental and attractive in appearance and may be secured to their supports by screws or other analogous devices 17.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 5 my improved hanger or suspension device 20 corresponds in all respects in its structure to the rail above described and may have an ornamental head or enlargement 18 at its free end, and at its attached end is secured to an eye bracket 19, by a link 20. In other respects the device is constructed the same as that described in connection with the rail.

The metal reinforcing member gives strength to the rail, prevents it from stretching and yet does not interfere with the flexibility or the general attractiveness of the flexible rail over a rigid rail.

I do not of course limit myself to the particular material employed but desire to cover broadly the idea as expressed.

Vhile I have illustrated what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention it is obvious various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from the invention and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider mysclf at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a transversely flexible composite robe rail or the like, a length of substantially nonstretchable metallic reenforcing wire having looped ends, a pair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips respectively aflixed to the looped wire ends, a relatively stretchable braided cushioning core completely embedding said wire and overlapping the respective adjoined end portions of said strips but leaving the outermost strip ter minals free to project beyond the ends of said core, and an ornamental sheath-like retaining cover braided over said core length.

2. In a transversely flexible composite robe rail or the like, a length of substantially nunstrctchablc metallic reenforcing wire having loopei'l ends, a pair of relatively ri id metallic terminal strips respectively affixed to the looped wire ends, a reh lively stretchable braided cushioning core completely enibedding said wire and overlapping the respective adjoined end portions of said strips but leaving the outermost strip terminals free to project beyond the ends of said. core, and which projecting ends are respectively provided with an exposed aperture for attachment purposes, a chambered support bracket having a slot therein adapted to receive one of said apertured strip ends, and

securing means adapted to enter the exposed aperture of the last named strip and interlock the same with respect to said bracket slot, said securing means being concealed within the chamber of said bracket.

3. In a transversely flexible composite robe rail or the like, a length of substantially non-stretchable metallic reenforcing wire having looped. ends, a pair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips respectively affixed to the looped wire ends, a relatively stretchable braic ed cushioning core completely embedding said wire and overlapping the respective adjoined end portions of said strips but leaving the outermost strip terminals free to project beyond the ends of said. core, and which projecting ends are each provided. with an exposed aperture disposed adjacent to the respective terminals, a support bracket provided 'ith a slotted wall memher through which one of said strip terminals extends, and bracket securing means dowelled through the aperture of the last named strip terminal.

4. In a laterally flexible composite robe rail or the like, a length of substantially non-stretchable metallic reenforcing wire having looped return ends, a pair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips each provided with aplurality of holes therethrough of which one such hole engages one of the looped wire ends, a relatively stretchable braided cushioning core completely embedding therein said wire and overlapping the respective adjoined end portions of said strips but leaving the outermost strip terminals free to project beyond the ends of said core, and clinched staple means doweled chordwise through said core and one of the remaining strip holes serving to bond a core end to prevent slippage toward said wire.

5. In a laterally flexible composite robe rail or the like, a length of substantially nonstretchable metallic reenforcing wire having looped return ends, a pair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips eacli provided with a plurality of holes tl'ierethrough of which one such. hole engages one of the looped wire ends, a relatively stretchable braided cushioning core completely embedding therein said wire and overlapping the respective ad joined. end portions of said strips but leaving the outermost strip terminals free to project beyond the ends of said bore, staplelike bonding means entered through one of the remaining strip holes and chordwisc through the surrounding core to preventcore slippage, and a sheath-like retaining cover braided over both the core and said staple.

6. In a composite rope or the like, adapted to be suspended between spaced rigid support means, a length of transversely flexible but longitudinally inextensible metallic ligament of Wire having looped ends, a pair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips respectively affixed to said loops, and a relatively stretchable and pliable cushioning core completely embedding said Wire and overlapping the respective adj oined end portions of said strips but exposing the outermost strip terminals for projection beyond the respective core ends andwhich projecting strip portions are firmly anchored to the respective support means to constitute therebetween a continuity of all metal and virtually inextensible connection.

7 In a composite rope or the like adapted to be suspended between spaced rigid support means, a length of transversely flexible but longitudinally inextensible metallic ligament of Wire having looped ends, apair of relatively rigid metallic terminal strips respectively aflixed to said Wire loops, a relatively stretchable and pliable cushioning core completely embedding said Wire together With the respective adjoined end portion of said strips but exposing the outermost strip terminals, a sheath-like ornamental cover braided over said core, and an apertured ferrule-like casing for each of said strips adapted to slip over the respective terminals and trim the adjacent sheath ends thereof, the extending strip terminals being respectively anchored to the spaced support means and constituting a continuity of allmetal non-stretchable connection therebetween.

RAY F. SMITH. 

